All three of her works offered at Ellekilde sold beyond hopes. The top price of these was the 1920 painting La Dame aux Geints Noir, 2ft 10in x 2ft 2in (82 x 66cm), which sold
to a US collector for a double-estimate DKr120,000 (£10,000).
The Gazette was interested to learn from Ellekilde president Sven-Erik Olsen that the model for this work and also for Lady with a Cigarette, shown right, which sold to a Danish collector for DKr65,000 (£5416), is the artist’s husband, who was one of the first known transsexuals. This factor may or may not have increased the paintings’ appeal. A third Wegener, Lady with a Palm Leaf, 2ft 71/2in x 2ft 1/2in (80 x 62cm) went to another Danish collector for twice the lower estimate at DKr90,000 (£7500).
An early case of his ’n’ hers
We reported in last week’s Antiques Trade Gazette's Art Market pages on the Ellekilde, Copenhagen sale and reflected on the popularity of Scandinavian interiors. An altogether different Danish artist to enjoy success at that sale was Gerda Wegener (1885-1940), a magazine illustrator, whose work proves especially popular with an American audience.
